Tesco customers donate nearly 3 million meals for people in need

Generous Tesco customers have donated 2.8 million meals to feed people in need during the eighth Neighbourhood Food Collection, which took place in all stores from 30 June – 2 July 2016.

The collection, now in its fifth year, gives Tesco customers the opportunity to donate vital store cupboard staple foods to food redistribution charity FareShare and foodbank charityThe Trussell Trust. This summer’s collection brings the total number of meals collected to more than 36 million since the Neighbourhood Food Collection began in 2012.

Tesco has topped up donations made by 20% to enable the charities to expand their networks and reach even more people in need.

The Trussell Trust runs a network of over 420 foodbanks in the UK, that work with churches and communities to provide three days emergency food and support to people in crisis.

In 2015-16, 1,109,309 three day emergency food supplies were provided to people in crisis by Trussell Trust foodbanks across the UK. Of this number, 415,866 went to children.

Over 90% of food given out by foodbanks is donated by the public and everyone who comes to a foodbank is referred by a frontline professional or agency, such as the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, healthcare workers and children’s centres.

The 20% top up is redistributed by The Trussell Trust to participating foodbanks and then used by them to: develop additional beneficiary support services e.g. counselling and housing advice, provide volunteering/training opportunities, help cover running costs, set up social enterprises and purchase food.